Siletz_Reef_(Lincoln_County,_Oregon)

Siletz Reef (Lincoln County, Oregon)

Siletz Reef (Lincoln County, Oregon)

Reef off the coast of Oregon

44.9583333°N 124.0416667°W / 44.9583333; -124.0416667

The Siletz Reef is a large and shallow reef, just offshore the central coast of Oregon.[1] It runs about 1 mile (1.6 km) mile offshore from a southern boundary off Depoe Bay, though some references have it going as far south as Cape Perpetua[1] to a northern boundary off Lincoln City, Oregon,[2] though a northern boundary of Cascade Head is in some references.[3] The reef is rocky and is believed to comprise a few fairly large continuous rock structures and a wide expanse of smaller structures. [4]

It has been written as about 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore from Lincoln City, Oregon.[5]

The reef is often fished, and many whale watching and sightseeing charter vessels operate near the reef.[6]

Common species in the reef

Black rockfish comprise up 23% of the total fish. Blue rockfish, kelp greenling and juvenile rockfish were next at 14%. Lingcod and Canary rockfish and each made up roughly 9%, with yellowtail rockfish at 3%. Species occurring only rarely or less than 3% of the total were China rockfish, copper rockfish, yelloweye rockfish, quillback rockfish, skates, sculpins, flatfish and ratfish.[7]

Topography

Siletz Reef has highly variable bathymetry and variable underwater topography.[8]

Relief in the northern Siletz Reef can be quite dramatic. Massive structures, up to 20 metres (66 ft) vertical to several 10 feet (3.0 m) across are found there. These are covered with the anemone Metridium giganteum which seem abundant in a shallow area locals known as "Tacklebuster Reef." Relatively small patches off Cape Perpetua have both high density and high diversity of fish.[1]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "ROVing The Seafloor".
  2. [2]
    Donnellan, Mike; Merems, Arlene; Miller, Bill; Dinsmore, Meira. "Resolving Spatial Scales of Fish-Habitat Relationships on Nearshore Rocky Reefs" (PDF).
  3. [3]
    "Cascade Head - Oregon".
  4. [4]
    Amend, Mark; Fox, David; Romsos, Chris. "2001 Nearshore Rocky Reef Assessment ROV Survey" (PDF).
  5. [5]
    Elizabeth, Ridlington; Howell, Brock (October 16, 2009). "Oregon's Marine Treasures".
  6. [6]
    Fox, David; Merems, Arlene; Amend, Mark; Weeks, Hal; Romsos, Chris; Appy, Marcus. "Comparative Characterization of Two Nearshore Rocky Reef Areas: A high-use recreational fishing reef vs. an unfished reef" (PDF).
  7. [7]
    Merems, Arlene (September 30, 2003). "2002 Nearshore Rocky Reef Assessment ROV Survey" (PDF). Coastal Zone Management Section.
  8. [8]
    Huff, David D.; Lindley, Steven T.; Rankin, Polly S.; Mora, Ethan A. "Green Sturgeon Physical Habitat Use in the Coastal Pacific Ocean" (PDF).
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